La Cumbre
Brewing's Project Dank is just that; a project. It's an ever changing
expression of our hoppiest endeavors. Each recipe is different, featuring
different hops and hopping techniques. One thing will remain common - HOP
INSANITY. The lastest Project Dank, an IPA, took on the country's best IPA's
in the
Brewing News March Madness IPA competition. 64 IPAs and 7 rounds
later, Project Dank IPA won the National Championship by defeating Barley
Brown's Brew Pub Pallet Jack IPA in the Finals.

Beer Review by Beer Advocate
Appearance: Hazy amber, next to no head. What head there is there fades away
quickly. Just the thinnest of crowns around the edge. No lacing to speak of.

Smell: Holy hell. Holy. Hell. Best smelling IPA I've ever had. As soon as I
popped the top the room filled with beautiful citrus, apricots and tropical
fruit. Putting my nose in the glass, the beer reeks of cream. I can't wait to
taste the beer!

Taste: Well I wasn't expecting that. Unlike the fruity smell, the flavor is much
more earthy even dusty. Quite herbal. Dank, too, because of course it is. The
fruitiness comes through a bit more toward the finish. Cat pee and pine,
bitterness isn't bracing. Aftertaste is mostly bitter and sticks around a while.

Mouthfeel: Very sticky. Carbonation is lower, but far from flat. Really coats
the mouth.

Overall: This is a ridiculously good IPA. Unlike any other IPA I've had, and
it's fantastic. I wish I lived in New Mexico so I could drink this more
frequently. Just...oh my god. Five stars. Good job, La Cumbre.

Owners Jeff and Laura Erway
The story of Master Brewer Jeff Erway and his wife Laura is really a story of
beer. They met at a bar over a beer. They have travelled the country and the
world in search of good beer. When they aren’t drinking great beer or making
great beer, they can often be found in New Mexico’s high country talking
about…you guessed it; beer.

The 2 moved to Church Rock, NM in 2002 to pursue teaching jobs, and quickly
realized that one cannot live on Sierra Nevada alone, though they certainly
tried. The traveling started.They visited hundred of breweries in dozens of
states. They once hit 8 in one day while driving through California.

When not teaching, they were either camping or on the road seeking out the great
beer available throughout the country. Then came trips to England. Then Belgium,
tirelessly searching for great beer.

During one such trip in Arizona, they came upon a homebrew store. The thought
had never crossed their minds, but Jeff picked up the most important book he
ever read, John Palmer’s How To Brew. The rest, as they say, is history.

He brewed feverishly for 3 years before he decided to leave his position as a
music teacher. A degree from the American Brewers Guild found him a job at New
Mexico’s most successful and award-winning brewpub, Chama River Brewing Co.
There, Jeff thrived.

Not only was he running the states busiest little brewery, but he was making
plans for his own. It didn’t stop him and his then assistant, Justin Hamilton,
from racking up 2 silvers at the World Beer Cup as well as 2 Bronzes and a Gold
at the Great American Beer Festival.

In late 2009, Jeff knew it was time to pursue his and Laura's dream; La Cumbre
Brewing Co. is the realization of that dream.